Who is crazy? (Super Baldax on eBay)

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graywolf

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A Balda Super Baldax 2.8 in SC with bad photos, and replies to inquiries saying, I don't know anything about cameras, you can enlarge the photos I posted. Sold for $390, on eBay in England.

I am thinking the real value in that case was about $200? I would think maybe a properly and recently serviced one would be worth maybe $300 tops. Am I crazy?

Of course, anything is worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it, to that buyer. Or in this case to those buyers, who may have been more interested in the other guy not getting it than in getting it themselves.

Or to put it in other words are those cameras seriously selling for that much money? If they are I can stop looking, because I can not afford one.
 
No, you are not crazy. The buyer is. Jurgen Kreckel sells fully serviced ones as low as $250 depending on model and lens. I wouldn't buy a folder for regular use if it wasn't serviced. The cost of a CLA makes buying any folder with issues an expensive proposition.
 
Ebay seller Cupog typically sells folders like this, CLAed, for less than $250 including shipping to the U.S. I have purchased two Super Ikonta's and a Nettar from him and they all worked perfectly out of the box. There is really no need to buy from a seller who says he knows nothing about cameras.
 
I too can vouch for Cupog, good seller. As is Certo6 (Jurgen Kreckel). Both sell CLA'd folders, the former also Czech Meopta TLR's. Buying a vintage camera on ebay is a risky proposition, do some research beforehand, find a reputable seller and buy a serviced camera with a good return policy. You may spend a few extra bucks up front, but you'll be saving yourself a whole lot of money later.
 
graywolf said:
A Balda Super Baldax 2.8 in SC with bad photos, ...
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What lens does it have?
Is it perhaps a Enna Ennit f=80 mm / 2.8 ?

I think that one is one of the most expensive Super Baldax and a Super Baldax with a Ennit seems to be not that often to find.

The majority of Balda cameras seem to have more "simple" lenses.

But I have a TLR with this lens :D
 
Thomas78 said:
What lens does it have?
Is it perhaps a Enna Ennit f=80 mm / 2.8 ?

I think that one is one of the most expensive Super Baldax and a Super Baldax with a Ennit seems to be not that often to find.:D
Click to expand...

Yes, "2.8 SC" meant f/2.8 lens in Synchro-Compur shutter. Sorry if the abbreviation confused anyone. That is what I am looking for.
 
Yes keep an eye on it indeed ! ;) One of these completed on ebay uk a few days ago for an eye-watering 1789.00 GBPounds, and there's now yet another following on close behind. The collect-at-any-price buyers love these.
I had one of these a while ago but sold it as I didn't like the ergonomics, although they have a nice lens. I actually prefer the Autorange-20, a 1930s predecessor which isn't even self-erecting but suits me nicely as a 'user', or in a more 'modern' configuration the 1930s Bessa Rangefinder. :)

EDIT 20 Jan 2011: This was following a post that has now been removed by the author. To clarify the context, this was about the Ensign Autorange 820 (not the OP Super Baldax).
 
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I can understand insane prices on super rare hard to find items, like a Bessa II with the Apo-Lanthar lens.

In my case, I read in posts here on RFF about people buying these cameras on eBay for $80, yet when I start to look for one they are going for $400. Well, they tell me patience is the key.

By the way, unless it is your item, posting ongoing auctions is not a nice thing to do to your buddies here on the list. He may be trying to buy that camera, and you pointed it out to a lot of people who may bid on a lark driving the price up for him. In my case it probably doesn't make any difference because it seems everyone in the world wants the same cameras I do.
 
Not meaning any disrespect, but I doubt that anyone here would "drive up the price on a lark", especially on an exotic cult beast like an Autorange 820, which has a pre-existing WTF-price thread on this very forum. But, if it so offends you, I shall remove my post.

--nosmok
 
Nosmoke, What made you think my reply was specific to your post. In fact it was a general comment expanding on the OP, which was mine BTW.

Wealthy collectors will pay any price for something to fill out their collection, but they in my experience want mint items, not run of the mill in need of service items. My comment came about because, I could not get a good statement on the condition or decent photos from the seller, and the auction went to twice what I would have been willing to pay in that case, and I felt my top price was maybe $50 too high because I want one of those cameras. I do hope it turns out to be a mint perfectly working camera because that is what I think the buyer paid for it.
 
Today another one went for a ridiculous 350UKP! Pretty bizarre amounts for the first class folder from a second rate maker with a lens that ranks somewhere at the lower end of German 2.8 Tessar clones. Who is the nut that has has been hyping them?
 
http://jpgmag.com/stories/87

You will recognize the Pocket Hassy term from the eBay listing. When I inquired about one from Certo 6, he said $250-350 depending on condition, if he had one. And as readers of this forum know, his cameras ain't cheap.

I agree with you. I remember them from the catalogs when I was a kid and the Super Baldax was the cheapest in the class, and by a long margin. I could even imagine owning one someday. Which is why I have been watching for one. Completed listings show one sold just before Christmas for $54UKP.

I think the nut collectors are just spending their Christmas money. Anyway, I have about decided to look for a more expensive camera, that I could get for maybe <$300.
 
Hey, thanks to this thread I'm starting my day with a good hearty laugh. A photography magazine that won't print the phrase "cock the shutter" -- what's next, Food & Wine censoring the word "tart"?

Shaking his head as he quadruple-asterisks his shutter
 
Mmm perhaps I ought put my one up for sale, it would more than finance an Iskra I am looking for. Actually I wouldn't, the great thing about theses cameras is that they are affordable, or were, and usable. I have noticed crazy prices from time to time for different cameras, especially this year, it seems to go in phases. I fancy a Mamiya 6 but 2 sold recently for way over what I would expect.
 
I kind of had a thought, my friends in England tell me that things over there cost about the same as here in the USA, only in pounds instead of dollars. Those cameras were in England, so if we think of the selling price as dollars instead of converting them to dollars, then they sold high, but not outrageously so.

The only problem with that is that I am over here with my nearly worthless US dollars, and all the Super Baldax seem to be over there. Ah, well, maybe it is time to look for something else.
 
RichyD said:
Mmm perhaps I ought put my one up for sale, it would more than finance an Iskra I am looking for. Actually I wouldn't, the great thing about theses cameras is that they are affordable, or were, and usable. I have noticed crazy prices from time to time for different cameras, especially this year, it seems to go in phases. I fancy a Mamiya 6 but 2 sold recently for way over what I would expect.
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Well, I kind of gave up on getting a Super Baldax and bought an Iskra. Hopefully, the seller is honest and I will not be disappointed when it arrives.
 
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